Oil tankers are the skyscraper-sized vessels that power the global economy, so it’s not often that we imagine a future without them. But a group of architects is doing just that—and proposing a way to reuse them as infrastructure. »5/14/15 1:00pm 5/14/15 1:00pm

The oldest beer factory in Guangzhou, China, dates back to the 1960s—a hulking concrete building on the edge of the Pearl River, with 12 silos rising 114 feet into the sky. Two years ago, O-Office Architects decided to do something with the 60-year-old behemoth: Turn it into their own studio. »3/31/14 9:05am 3/31/14 9:05am

Recycling e-waste is kind of important. Our devices are full of heavy metals and toxins that probably shouldn't just chill in landfills. But iPhone repair company Twice Used is designing housewares that put a new spin on old handsets. »11/17/13 5:27pm 11/17/13 5:27pm

When the Houston Astrodome opened in 1965, it was hailed as technological marvel, the first enclosed, air-conditioned stadium ever—and the "eighth wonder of the world," according to some Texans. By 1995, it was so dilapidated that players refused to use it. Today, it’s an abandoned shell with a different nickname:… »9/13/13 1:40pm 9/13/13 1:40pm

This spring, when City Council voted to demolish the mall at South Street Seaport, they announced that current tenants would be allowed to stay until the summer's end. But many anchor stores chose to move out earlier—and two designers from Brooklyn were determined to take advantage of the abandoned store space. »9/02/13 2:30pm 9/02/13 2:30pm

Post-industrial cities have long struggled to find new uses for the (often gargantuan) factory infrastructure that once made their towns boom. Usually, that means a park or a museum. But a few cities—like Genk, Belgium—have tried a more experimental approach, turning these decrepit sites into unusual creative spaces. »8/28/13 4:10pm 8/28/13 4:10pm

Before you go tossing that coffee cup or plastic spoon into the garbage or even the recycling bin, why don't you send it along to artist Christian DuCharme? The man's made a name for himself making lights from discarded utensils. »10/08/11 2:00pm 10/08/11 2:00pm

If you've got the space at your next BBQ, the Boxman is a swanky alternative to the plebeian tent or—gag!—lowly picnic table. Made from a converted shipping container, you're guaranteed to make your friends and neighbors feel inadequate. »7/23/10 9:20pm 7/23/10 9:20pm